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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aanaiyittal Aadukkiren

From Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa…aaa…aa.aaa….Vocalizing melody.
Aaa…aa…aaa..aa…aaaVocalizing melody.
Aa…aaa…aa.aaa….Vocalizing melody.
Female
Aanaiyittaal aadugirenI dance when commanded,
Azhudha vannam paadugirenI sing while weeping in sorrow.
Aanaiyittaal aadugirenI dance when commanded,
Azhudha vannam paadugirenI sing while weeping in sorrow.
Female
Maalaiyitta paavathirkkuFor the sin of putting on the wedding garland,
Parigaaram thedugirenI seek a penance.
Aanaiyittaal aadugirenI dance when commanded,
Azhudha vannam paadugirenI sing while weeping in sorrow.
Female
Thaarathai sabaiyil panayam veithaThe one who gambled away his wife in the royal court,
Andha dharman irandhaanaeDid that Yudhishthira pass away?
Ingu marupadi pirandhaanaeHas he been reborn here again?
Female
Dhraupathi maanam kaapatharkkuTo save the modesty of Draupadi,
Andha kannan vandhaanaeThat Lord Krishna came.
Indha mangaiyin maanam kaapatharkkuTo protect this woman's honor,
Andha annai varuvaalaWill that Divine Mother come?
Maruvoor annai varuvaalaWill the Mother of Melmaruvathur come?
Varuvaala …varuvaala…Will she come? Will she come?
Female
Aanaiyittaal aadugirenI dance when commanded,
Azhudha vannam paadugirenI sing while weeping in sorrow.
Female
Sandhaiyil maniviyai vittruvittooSelling his wife in the marketplace,
Harichandran irandhaanaeDid King Harishchandra die long ago?
Avan sandhadhi ivandhaanaeIs this man a descendant of his line?
Female
Aadavar kaiyil poovaiyar endrumAre delicate women forever just objects of slavery,
Adimai porulthaanaIn the hands of men?
Idhai yen ena ketka nee illaiyooAre you not here to question why this happens?
Un maunam muraithaanaIs your silence justified?
Maruvoor thaayae sarithaanaO Mother of Maruvoor, is this right?
Sarithaana…. sarithaanaIs it right? Is it right?
Female
Aanaiyittaal aadugirenI dance when commanded,
Azhudha vannam paadugirenI sing while weeping in sorrow.
Female
Maarbodanaithu paal koduthaThe one who hugged you close to her chest and breastfed you,
Un thaayum penn thaanaeWas not your mother a woman too?
Andha inamum naan thaanaeAm I not belonging to that very same womanhood?
Female
Pettraval perai keduppadharkkuTo ruin the reputation of the mother who gave birth,
Endha pillaiyum ninaipaanaWould any child ever think of doing so?
Mattravar thaaram thaaiyallavaaIsn't another person's wife equal to one's mother?
Idhai marandhae thoduvaanaForgetting this, would a man dare touch her?
Maruvoor thaai thaan viduvaalaWill the Mother of Melmaruvathur spare him?
Viduvaala…. viduvaalaWill she spare him? Will she spare him?
Female
Aanaiyittaal aadugirenI dance when commanded,
Azhudha vannam paadugirenI sing while weeping in sorrow.
Maalaiyitta paavathirkkuFor the sin of putting on the wedding garland,
Parigaaram thedugirenI seek a penance.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses the deep pain and humiliation of a helpless woman who is forced to dance against her will while suffering under patriarchial oppression and injustice. She draws parallels from Hindu epics, comparing her plight to Draupadi being gambled away by Yudhishthira in the Mahabharata and Chandramati being sold in the marketplace by Harishchandra. Throughout the song, she questions the moral conscience of men and appeals directly to the Divine Mother of Melmaruvathur (Goddess Adhiparasakthi) for justice, asking if a mother will stand silently by while a woman's dignity is violated. Lyricist Vaali brilliantly weaves emotional agony, philosophical questioning, and spiritual devotion together in this poignant plea.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Aanaiyittaal aadugiren

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words, such as 'Aanaiyittaal' and 'aadugiren' or 'Dhraupathi' and 'Dharman'.

Etugai (Rhyming Second Letters)

Aanaiyittaal aadugiren / Azhudha vannam paadugiren

Rhyming of second letters across consecutive lines, seen in 'Aanaiyittaal' and 'Azhudha' (n/zh rhyme patterns) or 'Maarbodanaithu' and 'Andha'.

Eyaibu (End Rhyme)

Maalaiyitta paavathirkku / Parigaaram thedugiren

Consistent ending rhyming syllables across stanzas like 'aadugiren', 'paadugiren', 'thedugiren'.

Mythological Imagery / Rhetoric

Thaarathai sabaiyil panayam veitha / Andha dharman irandhaanae

Allusions to the Mahabharata (Dharma gambling Draupadi) and Harishchandra's story to highlight timeless moral decay and suffering of women.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Melmaruvathur Arpudhangal' (1986) is a devotional Tamil drama film centered around the miracles of Goddess Adhiparasakthi of the famous Melmaruvathur temple complex. Lyricist Vaali penned several socio-devotional songs for this genre, using classical epic references to highlight social issues concerning women's rights and dignity.

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